Modern Woman. Modern Life. And GodSýnishorn

The Rewards of Work

One basis of good management is to recognize and reward employees for outstanding performance. Still, many employees feel that they never receive the recognition or rewards they deserve from their earthly employers.

Believers are in an ideal situation when it comes to the question of rewards because God has a recognition and incentive program better than any employer could ever devise. He promises that as they perform everyday duties as unto him, he will recognize and reward them, whether employers ever appreciate them or not (Mt 6:19–21; Heb 6:10).

Jesus taught that if believers rely solely on rewards from others, they will miss God’s reward. He shows that if the motivation is to be recognized and rewarded here on earth, that will be the full extent of the reward. He advises us to work for recognition from God, not others—for rewards that are eternal not temporal (Mt 6:1–4).

Earthly recognition is rarely given fairly. Some receive recognition they do not deserve, and others who deserve recognition never get it. Furthermore, earthly recognition is fickle; the winds of fame can shift suddenly. God’s recognition, by comparison, lasts through eternity, is fairly distributed, and will be there always.

What a difference when believers understand that people’s rewards and recognition are not what is needed. When they are working for the Lord’s approval, they are freed from being a slave to people (Heb 11:5; 13:21; 1Jn 3:22). When they know they are going to get their reward from the Lord, whether or not people recognize their contribution matters less and less. They are free from that need to please others in order to be accepted (Eph 6:6; 1Th 2:4).